7 Recommended Websites for Parents of Children with Hearing Loss
Navigating the world of hearing loss can be challenging and overwhelming. With today’s technology, you can find information and resources about almost anything with just the click of a button! But how do you know that the information you find is valid and reliable? And with all the information out there, it can be difficult to filter through and find what is most valuable. Sound Speech is here to help. Check out our list below to find the websites you don’t want to miss!
1. www.hearingfirst.org
Hearing First is an online resource for parents and professionals who are using a listening and spoken language approach with children with hearing loss. Sign up for a free membership and you will gain access to a multitude of resources, including an online forum, webinars, developmental milestones, and more!
2. www.agbell.org
The Alexander Graham Bell Academy (AG Bell) is another organization for parents of children with hearing loss who have chosen a spoken language approach. AG Bell is the governing body of all certified listening and spoken language specialists (LSLS). Check out their website to find a list of certified LSLS in your area, apply for parent financial aid opportunities, and learn more about hearing loss and hearing technology. Be sure to subscribe to their free e-newsletter to stay in the loop with all their latest news and updates!
3. www.successforkidswithhearingloss.com
Success for Kids with Hearing Loss is a wealth of information for both parents of children with hearing loss and the professionals who serve them. This website was created by Karen Anderson, PhD, who is an audiologist and world-renowned pioneer in the field of hearing loss. Dr. Anderson’s website offers a vast multitude of resources, including information about social skills, self-advocacy skills, legal issues in serving children with hearing loss, and more.
4. www.babyhearing.org
This website is a product of Boys Town National Research Hospital in Nebraska, a nationally known center for children with hearing loss. Their site offers parent-friendly tabs like “What is an Audiogram?” and “How to Protect Baby’s Hearing” to help you quickly find information you are looking for. They have included tips for playtime, reading, maximizing daily routines, and signing with your baby. You will even find videos demonstrating many of these topics!
5. www.signlanguage101.com
Are you looking to learn American Sign Language (ASL) but don’t know where to start? Are you already using ASL with your baby but you’re having trouble finding the signs for common words and phrases? Then be sure to check out Sign Language 101. This free resource includes ten video lessons teaching you the signs for things around the house, verbs, foods and drinks, etc. Videos are led by Dr. Byron Bridges, a nationally-known teacher and lecturer in ASL and a Certified Deaf Interpreter (CDI).
6. www.earcommunity.org
If you have a child with microtia and atresia and you haven’t yet discovered Ear Community, stop what you are doing and go to www.earcommunity.org! This non-profit organization offers an incredibly welcoming community for parents of children with microtia and atresia. Their website has a long list of organizations that offer financial assistance for hearing technology—and as many of you know, that alone is a gold mine!! Check this website out for FAQs about microtia and atresia, surgical options, a glossary of terms, and much, much more!
Although not specific to children with hearing loss, Zero to Three is an organization committed to ensuring that all children birth to three achieve their fullest potential. Simply put, this is a must-see resource for ANY PARENT. Their website provides information about practically every topic imaginable, including developmental milestones, potty training, discipline, tantrums, early literacy, screen time…you name it, it’s there! I could not have survived the first three years of parenting twins without it!
Do you have concerns about your child with hearing loss? Call or email us today to learn more about how we can help!
Theresa Harp, M.A., CCC-SLP, LSLS Cert. AVT
Theresa is a certified speech-language pathologist and auditory verbal therapist specializing in serving deaf and hard of hearing children and their families. She owns and operates Sound Speech, LLC, a private practice exclusively devoted to children with hearing loss. It is one of the only private practices in New Jersey that offers expertise in both auditory verbal therapy and American Sign Language. Theresa lives in Hunterdon County with her husband, three young daughters, and a very high maintenance goldendoodle!